ALBUM REVIEW: Closure – An Autumn For Crippled Children
Dutch anonymous collective AN AUTUMN FOR CRIPPLED CHILDREN have been extremely prolific in their 14 year career, delivering a steady stream of albums like clockwork and establishing themselves to a niche corner within the black metal scene with their black-meets-post-metal soundscapes. Arriving hot on the heels of 2021’s As The Morning Dawns We Close Our Eyes comes their tenth album; Closure. An impressive feat to deliver such a turnover of album we must admit, but if the quality isn’t there, what’s the point? Fortunately, for this mysterious trio, they have delivered once again with one of the year’s more immersive and gripping listens.
For the uninitiated, AN AUTUMN FOR CRIPPLED CHILDREN straddle the sounds of black metal and shoegaze-y dream pop to present a sound that was buzzing across online forums at the height of the Sunbather craze in 2013. But this band is not just a DEAFHEAVEN copy-cat, the Dutch trio have been carving their own way in the scene and Closure continues to build upon the good foundations lain by 2021’s previous effort.
The album roars into life with Missed as an melancholic burst of percussion and guitars sets the scene nicely before MXM unveils his pained shrieks to wonderous effect and the swirling underbelly of emotion-invoking synths that pulls you into their soundscape. But as the album unfolds its numerous layers, we see why their multi-faceted approach is striking a chord with many. I See You… But Never Clearly is an early tear-jerker as mournful riffs, delicate leads and a harrowing vocal display from MXM leave you paused and pondering reflecting on the darkest days, Where Pain Begins ups the gears and presents a blistering blackened charge where blastbeats reign supreme and This Feels Like Dying‘s soundscapes are absolutely enormous as the combination of synths and riffs wash over you like a wave crashing against the rock wall.
Meanwhile, As The Void‘s splashes of a violin helps add a new musical component to the band’s already reflective atmosphere, leading to one of the most spine-tingling moments on the entire record, the title track shimmers with gorgeous fragility where the band’s shoegaze influences take centre stage whereas For Tomorrow, which immediately follows, is an aural monster where the band bask in their black metal sonics to deliver a track that is fitting for the genre. But it is with final track, Here Comes Sorrow, that proves to be Closure‘s swansong and it’s fitting that it’s the final song on the record. Here, the tempo is amped up and there’s almost a feeling of bittersweet happiness as AN AUTUMN FOR CRIPPLED CHILDREN close the book on their newest chapter. The progressive and explorative nature of the track really showcases a band that are capable of being a multi-faceted beast and it’s a soaring finish to an album that has rarely shattered the immersion.
When a band is as prolific as this, there’s often cause for concern that there won’t be much gas left in the tank and mediocrity or laziness will rear their ugly heads. Fortunately, Closure avoids all these pitfalls and continues to showcase why AN AUTUMN FOR CRIPPLED CHILDREN are carving their place in an overcrowded scene. Closure ebbs and flows, invokes a myriad of emotions, and expertly showcases the band’s potency for crafting truly wonderful blackgaze. We have to wonder just how many more albums this band need to release before they’re seen by a wider audience.
Rating: 8/10
Closure is out now via Prosthetic Records.
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